D&D (2024) New One D&D Playtest Includes 5 Classes & New Weapon Mastery System

The latest playtest packet for One D&D has just landed, and features five classes (Barbarian, Fighter, Sorcerer, Warlock, and Wizard) and the new Weapon Mastery system.

In this new Unearthed Arcana document for the 2024 Core Rulebooks, we explore material designed for the next version of the Player’s Handbook. This playtest document presents the rules on the Weapon Mastery property, updates to weapons, new and revised spells, several new feats, and five classes: Barbarian, Fighter, Sorcerer, Warlock, and Wizard. You will also find an updated rules glossary that supercedes the glossary of any previous playtest documents.

Claim Unearthed Arcana now! - D&D Beyond

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[Whizbang Dustyboots]

See various other rules/stuff that WoTC should have made but leaves up to DMs to work the details out.

All of the spell modifications in the UA should have a +1 to level by default, IMO, other than some of the damage type switches, although some are clear upgrades.

I mean, I'll be happy to go around casting permanently silent illusion and enchantment spells, but that feels like a big power up to a class that didn't need it.

 

[This Effin’ GM]

Yeah I like pretty much everything I see in this minus the phrasing “prepared spells” for sorcerer

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Yeah, yeah, this kind of statement comes up a lot. But there's a pretty big difference between not liking change and not liking THAT change. And there are WAY too many people around here who hyperbolically see the latter and throw around accusations of the former.

I'm pretty sure I can be safely identified as one of the biggest advocates of change in this iteration of the game, and I'm going to say this is an unfair and pointlessly antagonistic dig.

I assure you, it wasn't my intention with that post to make any sort of dig. Sorry if I was unclear there. I meant the first part (Understanding the rage) to be stronger than the second (not liking change - a tendency that I sympathize with!)

Rereading it, I see where I went wrong.

To reiterate: It is perfectly valid to not like the changes to the Warlock. Absolutely understandable. I may even agree after trying it out!

 

[Vaalingrade]

Champion's Heroic Warrior says 'once per combat', but... I thought we were pretending there are no encounter powers!

Let's wait until a real subclass says something.

 

[Vael]

What does everybody think of the Sorcerer so far?

My favourite class got quite the glow up, it's so pretty. Twin Spell got nerfed hard, but tbh, it broke both Concentration and Action Economy, so I get it. I still think Metamagic needs to be more interesting, but the ability to swap out a metamagic every long rest is really good.

I like the new Sorcerer exclusive spells. They give a good baseline, and I like that they feel more like raw power. Like the cantrip with exploding dice, Self-healing makes sense for a wellspring of arcane power, the Burst and Incarnate spells are neat, and give design space for subclasses to play with. This all makes sense and does a lot for opening up more niche themes.

 

[The Shadow]

I'm thoroughly disappointed that wizard traditions are still spell schools. And to put a cherry on top, apparently half the schools will be missing from the PHB!

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Why?

Took me a bit to go back and see what we were talking about.

Yeah. 5e is balanced around 6-8 encounters in a day. I don't think that is a good idea at all. 3 encounters per day? That would be great. Why, do you think otherwise?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Evokers' Sculpt Spells ability is inferior to making customized versions of their AOE evocation spells. So once evokers have enough time and money, it's an ability they'll never use, which feels unintended. (Again, making that effect on custom spells bump the new spell up a level would address the issue nicely.)

 

[Bolares]

I'm thoroughly disappointed that wizard traditions are still spell schools. And to put a cherry on top, apparently half the schools will be missing from the PHB!

Them calling it "the evoker" instead of "evocation school" gives me a little hope that not all of them will be based on the schools, and we can see a bladesinger soon.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I'm thoroughly disappointed that wizard traditions are still spell schools. And to put a cherry on top, apparently half the schools will be missing from the PHB!

Tales of the Valiant has a feat that replicates spell schools if you and your DM prefer that.

That said, how many of those specialist subclasses ever got used? Half seems about right.

I don't think we'll see four subschool subclasses in the 2024 PHB. Warmage and bladesinger are tied with evoker for the most popular subclasses and I bet they get called up to the big show. The question is which other subclass makes the cut. (Fingers crossed for illusionist.)